José
/xoˈse/noun
A masculine given name, especially common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures.
Did you know?In Genesis, Rachel names Joseph after asking that God add another son, making the name’s origin explicitly tied to divine increase and answered desire.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
יוֹסֵף (Yōsēph)
“He will add; may he add”
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Septuagint Greek
Ἰωσήφ (Iōsēph)
“Joseph, the Greek form of the Hebrew name”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Ioseph
“Joseph, adopted from Greek”
Medieval Period
Old Spanish
Josepe / Josep
“A Spanish Romance form of Joseph”
Modern Spanish
Spanish
José
“A masculine given name, traditionally pronounced with Spanish /x/”
Modern English
English
José
“A borrowed personal name, often pronounced /hoʊˈzeɪ/ in English”